Senate confirms David Friedman as US ambassador to Israel

Only two Senate Democrats voted in favor of Trump’s nominee for US ambassador to Israel, who was confirmed in a vote of 52-46. 

The United States Senate confirmed on Thursday President Donald Trump’s nominee for US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, in a vote of 52-46 that was almost entirely along party lines.

Only two of the 48 Senators in the Senate Democratic caucus, Bob Menendez of New Jersey and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, joined 50 Republicans in voting for Friedman. Menendez was the only Senate Democrat in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to have voted to recommend Friedman to be the US ambassador to Israel.

Shortly after the vote, Israel’s Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer congratulated his new US counterpart.

“Congratulations to David Friedman!” Dermer wrote on Twitter. “Looking forward to working closely with you to make the US-Israel alliance stronger than ever.”

By: Jonathan Benedek, World Israel News

David FriedmanSenate Foreign Relations CommitteeTrump administrationUS Senate